Winding machine



8" E. J. ABBOTT ET AL. 2,426,168

V WINDING MACHINE j Filed Oct. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 26, 1947.

E. J. ABBOTT ET AL.

WINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 jwerziarzs mamaJfl'a i fi'zZ/ZrapLEerfy ea o:

g- ,1 E. J. ABBOTT El AL 2,426,168

WINDING CHINE filed Oct. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 llv I I I I l I I I IIV I I I jrzaerhfans' MM Jjflgi Why 194.1 6

Aug. 26, 1947.

E. J. ABBOTT ET AL 2,426,168

WINDING MACHINE Filed .Oct. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jwenaori; wardxflaafiaf hZz'reZ/Erap Z Berg 7- E. J. ABBOTT ET AL 2,426,168

WINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 26, 1947.

E. J. ABBOTT ET AL 2,426,168

WINDING MACHINE Filed Odt. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 i w pl' E 17 J z-1947- E. J. ABBOTT ET AL 2,426,168

WINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 7- m my E F K 3 417KJ i i jrzaerze'ars' M 4/2450 Aug. 26, 1947- E. J. ABBOTT ET AL.

WINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1944' 9 Sheets-Sheet av 4M 26 1947". E.J. Mason E'TAL 2,426,168

WINDING MACHINE 9 Sheds-Sheet 9 Filed Oct. 28, 1944 Patented Aug. 26,1947 WINDING MACHINE Edward J. Abbott and N. H.. assignors to Wilton,

Winthrop L. Perry, Abbott Machine Company, N. H., a corporation of NewHampshire Wilton,

Application October 28, 1944, Serial No. 560,737

(Cl. 242--3Z) 41 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic winding machines, and moreespecially to mechanism for automatically changing the winding bobbinand starting winding on a fresh bobbin.

The invention has various features that are of special utility in theautomatic winding of filling wound bobbins, that is, bobbins on whichthe thread is laid in nested conical layers.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a more direct path fora thread which passes upwardly from a supply'p'ackage to the windingbobbin, to improve thethread guide mechanism and cause it to run moreeasily, to provide for a more positive control of the thread during theassociation of the thread with the fresh bobbin, and to secure theseadvantageous features in mechanism which will operate automatically towind the bobbin, produce an open spiral of thread on the exterior of thebobbin extending from the last conical layer back toward the base of thebobbin, substitute ously wound bobbin and'begin winding the thread onthe fresh bobbin.

A preferred form of the invention herein illustrated involves a windingunit tending mechanism to tend a plurality of winding units insuccession, but it will be apparent that many features of the inventioncan be utilized in machines in which tending mechanism attends to thechanging of bobbins only on a single winding unit or attends to thechanging of bobbins on a plurality of winding units simultaneously.

Other objects of invention and features of advantage will be apparentfrom this specification and its drawings wherein the invention isexplained by way of example.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing one side of the frame andtrack of a traveling unit winding machine looking in the direction fromwhich winding units approach the observer, showing one of the windingunits of the machine and showing mechanism for supplying fresh bobbinsto the winding units in succession and mechanism for associating thethread with a fresh bobbin;

Fig. 2 is a, diagrammatic plan view of a portion of the winding machine,showing a traveling winding unit at a position at which the last conicallayer of thread on its bobbin has been wound, the winding stopped, andthe thread extending upwardly to the thread guide about to encounter aninclined edge of a thread plow plate adapted to move this portion of thethread to tion of the machine a fresh bobbin for the previward thecenter for holding the base end of a bobbin;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of a pornext following that of Fig.2, showing a winding unit in a position in which its thread guide hasbeen shifted outwardly be-' yond the tip end of the'bobbin, the bobbinhas been discharged from between the bobbin-holding centers of the unitand rests on the surface of." the thread plow plate, and the threadwhich extends .upwardly to the thread guide has been plowed over nearlyto the outer face oi. the center for holding the base end of a bobbin;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of the machine a littlefarther along th machine than Fig. 3, showing two positions of a windingunit, at which the axis oi the centers 01' the wind ing unit has reachedrespectively the lines "4" and 4 4. At the position I' -4 the threadguide of the winding unit has already been shifted to a positionadjacent to .the center for holding the base end of the bobbin and liesbetween this center and mechanism for cutting and clamping the thread.In the position 4 4 the thread guide has been shifted still farther to aposition beyond the plane of the outer face of the center, and thecutting and clamping mechanism has picked up the thread extending fromthe thread guide to the bobbin and has raised this thread upwardly to aposition above the center. At the position fl-J the centers of thewinding unit are about to receive a fresh bobbin between them. and forcethe portion of thread that has been raised by the cutting and clampingmechanism against the center for holding the base endof the bobbin;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view in the nature of a vertical sectionshowing portions of the wlnding machineand 01' a. winding unit in theposition of Fig. 2;

Fig, 6 is a diagrammatic view in the nature of a vertical sectionshowing portions of the winding machine and of a winding unit in theposition of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan guide assembly and certain of itsassociated parts in the osition of Figs. 3 and 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary right side elevation of the thread guideassembly of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic elevation taken from the right side 01' Fig. 4showing Portions of the winding unit and the clamping and cuttingmechanism in th position 4 4 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view in the nature of a vertical sectionsimilar .to Fig. 6, showing view of the thread portions of the windingunit and the clamping and cutting mechanism in full lines in theirposition l -4 of Fig. 4, and in broken lines in their position 4 -4 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view of the thread clamping and cutting bill,this view being taken on the line ll-H of Fig. 9 and showing the billopen;

Fig. 12 is a view similar bill closed;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l3l3 of Fig.12 and showing also the clamped end of thread and the cut-off end ofthread; Fig. 14 is a fragmentary right side elevation of a winding unitand parts of the winding-unit tending mechanism of a modified form ofthe invention, showing a portion of the track of the machine incross-section and the bobbin-supplying mechanism being omitted forclarity of illustration;

to Fig, 11 showing the Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view in the nature of afront elevation of the winding unit of Fig. 14 at a position at which ithas a stopped winding, and before reaching the winding-unit tendingmechanism; and

Fig. 16 is a diagrammaticview in the nature of a vertical section of thewinding unit and winding-unit tending mechanism of Fig. 14,

showi portions of the winding unit, the thread and the cutting andclamping mechanism in full lines at the position where the thread isabout to be engaged by the cutting and clamping mechanism, and in brokenlines at the position corresponding to the position of 4 -4 of Fig. 4wherein the centers of the winding unit are about to receive a freshbobbin between them and force the portion of thread that has been raisedby the cutting and clamping mechanism against the center for holding thebase end of the bobbin.

As illustrated. in the drawings, the invention is shown as embodied intraveling multiple unit filling bobbin winding machines having many ofthe features'shown' in Reissue Patent No. 22,492, of Edward J. Abbott,in application Serial No. 386,- 136, of Edward J. Abbott and Winthrop L.Perry, filed March 31, 1941, Patent No. 2,377,367, and in applicationSerial No. 526,016 of Edward J. Abbott, Winthrop L. Perry, and Joseph E.Ring, filed March 11, 1944, now Patent No. 2,395,028. In addition, themachines illustrated in the drawings include some of the featuresdescribed and claimed in another application of Edward J. Abbott andWinthrop L. Perry, for Winding machine, Serial No. 560,736, filed on thesame date as this application, and for convenience numerous of thecorresponding parts of the machines of this and said other applicationare designated by the same or similar reference characters.

The several winding units indicated generally by the reference characteri are conveyed around a track comprised of upper and lower rails 2, 3(shown in cross-section in Fig. l) by a suitable driven chain (not shownherein, but which may be the chain 4 shown in Fig. 9 of the otherapplication of Edward J. Abbott and Winthrop L. Perry for Windingmachine, filed on the same date as this application, Serial No.560,736), through a closed path having straight and semicircularportions in the general manner described in the above reissue patent andapplications.

In each winding unit the thread T from a supply package 6 carried nearthe bottom of the unit passes up through a suitable tension device I,

under the pivoted wire bail 8 of a thread detector, to a threadguideassembly indicated generally by the reference character 9 and shownin detail in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive.

5), the thread can pass approximately in a straight .line to and throughthe thread guide and thence to the bobbin. The thread guide thuscontrols only the axial or back and forth movement of the thread runningto the bobbin. This is advantageous in lessening the frictional effectof the thread guide on the thread, in reducing the pull of the thread onthe thread guide assembly, and in causing the thread guide assembly torun more easily, especially at high speeds. Preferably the thread guideis disposed below the bobbin, the thread supply also being below thebobbin, so that the thread runs upwardly to the thread guide, upwardlythrough the thread guide and thence further upwardly to the bobbin.

The bobbin is held at its base end by a hollow changed, to hold thelever 34 inwardly and thushold the outer center 3| retracted to releasethe full bobbin and until the unit comes into position to grasp a freshbobbin from the bobbinsupplying mechanism hereinafter described.

Each winding unit receives electric current from stationary rails 40, 4|by suitable brushes which are pressed down onto the rails at the placewhere winding starts, and are lifted up off the rails when the threadbreaks or exhausts, or the winding bobbin is full, or the unit is aboutto reach the bobbin-changing position, controlling mechanism similar tothat described in said application Serial No. 386,136 being employed forthis purpose.

The brushes on each winding unit are connected to an electric motor 60which is directly coupled to drive the inner hollow bobbin-holdingcenter 30 and also coupled through suitable gearing to drive a traversecam which in turn reciprocates the traverse rod 20, as described in saidapplication Serial No. 386,136. The stroke of reciprocation of thetraverse rod is relatively short, compared to the length of the bobbin,and the thread guide assembly 9, on the traverse rod, is progressivelyadvanced along the traverse rod away from the base and toward the tip ofthe bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in overlappedconical layers.

The thread guide assembly 9, shown in detail in Figs. 5 to 8, includesan upper plate 6i and a lower plate 62 connected by vertical end pieces63, 64 of fiber-composition material which frictionally engage thereciprocating traverse rod 20. The thread guide assembly also includes atubular element 65 of fiber-composition material also frictionallyengaging the traverse rod between the two end pieces 63, 64. Theengagement of the thread guide assembly with the travpreparation forbeginning the winding of a fresh bobbin.

Thread T runs from the pivoted thread detector 8 (Fig. 2) up through athread guide eye 68 shown as formed of a bent wire extending beneath thebobbin from the lower plate 6 2 of the thread guide assembly. From thethread guide eye 68 the thread run further upwardly onto the windingbobbin.

The thread passes through a slot or passage defined by the two parallelportions of the bent wire which constitutes the thread guide 68, andthisslot is preferably of sufficient length so that in running from thethread detector B'to either the large diameter portion or the smalldiameter portion of the winding there is, as viewed in the plane of Fig.5, an approximately straight path for the thread to and through thethread guide and-thence to the bobbin.- The-thread of course, isnecessarily deflected by the thread guide as viewed in planes such asthere is of Figs. 1 and due to the windin of different axial portions ofthe winding package as the thread guide reciprocates.

The upper plate Bl of the thread guide assembly is provided with adownturned portion 6| (Fig. carrying a roller HI extending loosely intoa recess H in a horizontal bar 12 which constitutes a part ofthe frameof the winding unit.

The lower plate 62 of the thread guide assembly is provided withdownturned portions 62, 62

which are slotted to receive a slidable feeler' member 15. The feeler'member is bent at its right end (Fig. 7) to provide an inclined portionI5 adapted to be engaged by the last-laid conical layer of thread on thebobbin, to push the feeler member toward the left, the feeler memherbeing yieldingly urged in the opposite direction toward the windingbobbin by means of a coil spring 16 which is compressed between aportion of the feeler member and the downturned portion 62 (Fig. 6).

The left end of the feeler member is out off on an angle in the form ofa ratchet tooth 15", as shown in Fig. 7, and a stationary ratchet bar 18carried by the bar 12 is adapted to be engaged by the tooth 15' when thefeeler member' is pushed to the left an amount corresponding to thepredetermined desired diameter of the wound bobbin. Engagement of thetooth W with the stationary ratchet bar 18, as the traverse rod movesrearwardly, detains the thread guide assembly, allowing the traverse rodto slide rearwardly with respect to the thread guide assembly and thusadvancing the thread guide assembly progressively step by step along thetraverse rod in accordance with the growth of the wound thread on thebobbin. 7

The thread guide assembly is provided with an upstanding pin 80 carryinga roller 8| at its upper end, this roller bein engageable by variousdevices as hereinafter described, to slide the thread guide assembly ineither direction along the traverse rod after the completion of windingof theconical layers of thread on the bobbin. Each winding unit includeswinding-stopping mechanism adapted to operate under various .cir-

- ping mechanism, which may if 6 position corresponding to the outermostconical layer of the wound bobbin.

This winding-stopdesired be constructed as described more fully in saidother application of Edward J. Abbott and Winthrop L. Perry, Serial No.560,736, filed on the same date as this application and may include thefeatures described in connection with Fig. 15 of this application,includes a rotatable rod 85 carrying an upstanding finger 86, normallyin the position shown in Fig 5. A horizontal extension 62 of thedownturned portion 62 of the thread guide assembly is provided with aninclined edge 62 adapted to strike the finger 86 and tilt it and the rod85 in a counterclockwise direction to actuate the winding-stoppingmechanism.

Following the completionof a filling wound bobbin on a winding unit anddischarge of the wound bobbin from between the centers 3i], 3!- andfollowing the positioning of the thread from the thread guide inposition to be engaged by the fresh bobbin as hereinafter described. thewinding unit, with its center 3| retracted, reaches a bobbin-supplyingapparatus such as described in said application Serial No. 386,136,where the center 3| is allowed to close upon a fresh bobbin, and forceit into the hollow center 30. As indicated in Fig. 1, thebobbin-supplying apparatus includes a hopper $0 from which empty bobbinsare fed onto an inclined track consisting ofspaced rails 9|, .of whichone is shown in Fig. 1'. The

' bobbins hang by their enlarged base portions from cumstances,among'which is that of the thread guide assembly reaching apredetermined/outer the rails 9i, and are released one at a time bymeans of pivoted stops 93, 94 which are actuated by means of a shaft 95,crank 95, lifter rod 91 and bell-crank 98 by a pin lflll on each passingwinding unit. A bobbin discharged from the lower- Inost pivoted stop 93slides off the rails 91 and enters between spaced plates I02, I02, ofwhich one is shown in Fig l. The bobbinslides down the inclined upperedges of plates I02 suspended by its enlarged base portion similarly toits pa..- sage down the rails 9|, 9|, and is then detained and heldhorizontally by pivoted bobbin-holding fingers I05, H15 in position tobe received, as described above, between the centers 30, 3| of a passingwinding unit and withdrawn from these fingers.

A short distance below the level at which the thread guide eye 68operates, a stationary horizontal plate 580 extends inwardly under thepath of the bobbins of the winding units at the winding unit tendingmechanism. Fig. 2 shows the end of the plate 500 which is firstencountered by the traveling winding units and shows the innercam-shaped edge 5M of this plate about to engage the portion of threadextending from the detector wire 8 to the thread guide eye 53.

This inner edge 50! is shaped to force the thread over in the directionof the basecenter 3d while at the same time causing the portion ofthread riding along edge 50! to lag somewhat behind its former positionin the winding unit (Fig. 3),

While the thread is thus being forced inwardly by edge 50!, a stationarycam lZO (Fig. 3) located above the path of travel of the winding unitsis adapted to engage the upstanding rollor ti on each thread guideassembly to slide the thread guide assembly along its traverse. rod andposition it axially beyond the-wound bobbin at the position shown inFig.3. It will be understood that the'thre'ad guide assembly willnormally have tripped its stop mechanism as a consequence of the bobbinbeing fully wound, with the result of deenergizing the motor 60. andstopping rotation 7 of the bobbin and reciprocation of the thread guideassembly. The thread guide assembly will stop with its eye 68 somewherewithin the zone defined by the length of the last conical layer' ofthread on the bobbin, and in the event that the winding is stopped bythe bobbin being fully wound, such last conical layer will extend towithin a short distance from the tip of the bobbin, as shown in Fig. 2.If stoppage of winding is brought about by actuation of the threaddetector.

8 by breakage or exhaustion of the thread supply, then the last conicallayer will be nearer to the base of the bobbin and the thread guide eyewill accordingly stop in the zone of such last conical layer. Whereverstopped, the ,thread guide eye is moved axially of the bobbin to the tipend thereof and preferably somewhat beyond the tip end thereof (as shownin Fig. 3) by the action of the stationary cam I20 upon the roller As aresult of the combined action on the cam edge M and the outward motionof the thread guide eye described above, both the thread and threadguide eye are removed from interfering with downward movement of thewound bobbin, and when as in Fig. 3 the outer center 3| is retracted,the wound bobbin is free to drop onto the plate 500.

The wound bobbin on the plate 500 is loosely confined between an arm 502and rod 503 that extend out from the head of the winding unit, and isthus caused to roll along the plate with the winding unit. The threadfrom the thread guide is therefore wound slowly on the rolling bobbin.

With the bobbin displaced from its winding position, the thread guideassembly is now capable of being pushed rearwardly without its feeler I5being forced into locked engagement with the ratchet bar 18.

As the bobbin thus rolls along the plate, th roller ill on the threadguide assembly encounters a stationary cam 3I0 (Figs. 3 and 4) and thethread guide assembly is thereby slid inwardly from the position of Fig.3 to that of the line 4 4 of Fig. 4 wherein it lies adjacent to the basecenter 30 of the winding unit. This inward movement of the thread guideassembly and slow rotation of the bobbin wind the thread onto the outersurface of the bobbin in the form of an open spiral. The threadextending from the thread guide eye 68 to the wound bobbin is alsobrought into position to be received by the thread clamping andpositioning mechanism now to be described.

While various forms of mechanism for positioning the thread forassociation with the new bobbin might be employed, it is preferred toemploy mechanism employing certain of the features of such mechanismdescribed and claimed in the said other application of Edward J. Abbottand Winthrop L. Perry, Serial No. 560,736, filed on the same date asthis application. More especially the thread positioning mechanism shownin Figs. 9 to 13 includes a combined clamp and cutter in the nature of abill I50 adapted to cut and clamp the thread and move the clamped threadto the opposite side of the bobbin-holding center from the thread guideeye 68.

The bill I50 is mounted on a sleeve 530 (Figs. 9 and 10) which turns ona stationary shaft 53I, so as to move from the position of Fig. 9 andfull line position of Fig. 10. to the upper broken line position of Fig.10. v

As shown in more detail in Figs. 11 to 13, the

bill has at its outer end a fixed blade I5I having a clamping edge I52,has pivotaliy secured thereto at I53 a pivoted blade I54 having acutting edge I 55, and has fixedly secured thereto a spring blade I51having a cutting edge I58. An extension I56 of the pivoted blade I54 isadapted to open and close this pivoted blade.

Movement of the thread guide assembly to the position of Fig. 9 androlling of the bobbin along the plate 500 brings the thread whichextends from the thread guide eye 68 to the bobbin into position to bereceived by the open blades of the bill.

The bill I50 is urged toward its bottom position shown in full lines inFig. 10 by a spiral spring 540 (Fig. 9) which is connected to therotatable sleeve 530 and to the stationary shaft 53I. The sleeve 530 isprovided with a crank arm 543 adapted to engage and be turned by eachone of bars I00 that project upwardly from the respective travelingwinding units, thus to raise the bill to the upper broken line positionof Fig. 10 each time a winding unit reaches the bill.

The extension I56 of the pivoted blade I54 of the bill is connected to alever 546 which is pivoted at 541 to an arm 548 on the sleeve 530. Acoil spring 549 between the lever 546 and sleeve 530 acts on these partsto urge the pivoted blade of the bill to its open position shown in fulllines in Fi 10.

Shortly after starting its upward swing, the bill receives between itsblades the portion of the thread extending from the thread guide eye 68to the wound bobbin. Then the bill is closed by the time it reaches thelower broken line position of Fig. 10, cutting ofi the end of threadleading to the wound bobbin and holding clamped the end of threadextending to the thread guide, the bill remaining closed during theremainder of its upward swing.

For controlling the closing of the blade, the lever 54'! is providedwith a rearwardly extending .pin 55I adapted to be acted on by a camsurface 553 and a subsequent holding surface 554 on a stationary bracket555.

When the winding unit center 30 and threadguide eye 68 reach theirbroken line-positions of Fig. 10, the thread between the thread guideeye 68 and bill I50 is thus held across the center 30 as shown in Fig.10. At this stage the winding unit has reached the fresh bobbin which isheld in the position 4 =4 of Fig. 4 by the magazine. The outer center 3|then closes upon this fresh bobbin, forcing its base end and the threadto enter the center 30 so that the thread is thus clamped between thebobbin and the center. The thread is thereby effectively secured to thefresh bobbin, for winding thereon, the thread end pulls out from'betweenthe blades of the bill, and winding on the unit is started by theautomatic starting mechanism.

The full bobbin, cut off by the bill, rolls along with the unit until itreaches the edge 560 of the plate 500, whereupon it drops onto anysuitable slide or other receptacle.

As will be evident, the bill returns to its lower broken line positionof Fig. 10 and opens to receive the thread of the next winding unit.

The modified form of mechanism shown in Figs. 14 to 16 includes manyparts which are the same as or similar to those shown in the precedingfigures, and such parts are designated by the same or similar referencecharacters in the two forms of the invention and their descriptions willnot be repeated.

16 is movement of the thread guide, which is below the winding bobbin,rearwardly sufficiently tdprevent it from interfering with thesubsequent-fall of the finished bobbin. Another feature is the windingof the open spiral of thread on the exterior of the wound bobbin,through the cooperation of the thread guide located below the bobbin,While the bobbin is still held in winding position.

In the machine of Figs. 14 to 16, the arm 502 and rod 503 on the windingunit and the stationary plate 500, employed in the mechanism of Figs. 1to 13 to roll the wound bobbin during rearward movement of the threadguide, may be omitted.

In connection with the machine of Figs. 14 to 16, the winding-stoppingand startingmechanism, previously briefly mentioned in connection withthe machine of Figs. 1 to 13, will be described in more detail. Stoppingand starting of the winding on each unit is accomplished by suitableelectric switch mechanism, which for example may be similar to thatshownin Fig. 17 of said application Serial No. 386,136, which stops theWinding by allowing the brushes to rise out of contact withthestationary conductor rails, and starts the winding by pressing thebrushes down into contact with the conductor rails after the unit haspassed the bobbin-supplying mechanism.

The brushes thus move with a crank shaft 250 of the switch mechanism,this shaft having an arm 251 on the outer side of the head portion ofthe winding unit (Fig. 15) and being urged in a counterclockwisedirection in Fig. 15 by a coil spring25l (Figfl4). The brushes arepermitted to rise out ofcontact with the conductor rails when thecrankshaft 250 and arm 25! are allowed to turn counterclockwise to theposition of arm 251 shown in Fig. 15. A boss 462 on the switch mechanismof the unit (Fig. 14) is adapted to be engaged by a stationary abutmentI such as a stationary roller (not shown) to restore the brushes intocontact with the conductor rails to start the winding. As the brushesare restored into contact with the conductor rails and Winding therebystarted, the crank shaft 250 and arm 25] are thereby turned clockwise inFig. 16. Rod 85 (referred to previously in connection with Fig. 5)carries a latch member 253 of Whicha notch 254 is adapted to receive andhold a projection 255 at the' top of arm 25I, thus latching the arm 25Iin an upright position, and holding the switch mechanism closed..

When the latch 253 is raised 15, arm 25| is free to movecounterclockwise to its position there shown and the switch mechanismthereby allowed to open to stop winding. Latch 253 may be raised to theposition shown in Fig. 15 in either of two ways.

The thread guide assembly may reach. the projection Bi on rod 85 and thecam surface 62! (Fig 7) .tiltthe projection 86, thereby turning the rod85 counterclockwise and raising the latch. V The thread detector 8,pivotally mounted in a bracket 260 isprovidedwith a crank arm 2G2extendingrearwardlyunder a downturned portion 253 of latch 253. Threaddetector 8 isnormally held up by the tension of the thread. However,when the thread reaks or exhausts,

as shown in Fig.

When the switch mechanism closes, in starting winding, the tension ofthe thread returns the thread detector'to a position in which the latch253 can again hold the arm 25!, and thus hold the'switch mechanismclosed.

In the device of Figs. 14 to 16, the ratchetbar 18, which cooperateswith the thread guide assembly to advance the thread guide assemblyprogressively, is removed fromits normal position upon the completionof-the conical layers of winding, for the purpose of permitting thethread guide assembly to be moved backwardly over the full-diameterportion ofthe'wound' bobbin which is'still held in winding position. Itwill be observed that, during winding of the conical layers of thread,the ratchet bar 18 restrains the thread guide assembly, including itsfeeler, against movement from the zone of the last conical layer ofwound yarn toward the base of the bobbin. Means for disabling theratchet bar from so restraining the threaduguide assembly and feelerwill now be described. The ratchet bar 18, instead of being in fixedrelation to the supporting bar 12, as for instance in Figs. 5, 6 and '7,is mounted as shown in Fig. 15 on a plate 18 hinged at.l8 to the bar 12.A lever 300 on shaft 250and a link 3M connect the ratchet bar 18 to theshaft 250 .of the winding-stopping and starting mechanism so that whenwinding is stopped the ratchet bar is lowered out of the path of thetooth 15 of the feeler member of the thread guide assembly, as shown inFig. 15. When winding begins, the ratchet bar 18 resumes its activeposition, similar to that shown .in Fig. 5. V v A stationary cam 31!],similar to the one described in connection with Figs. sand 4, engagesthe upstanding roller 8| of the thread guide assembly and plows thethread guide assembly from its outermost position over to its rearmostposition where the thread guide eye 68 lies beneath the innerbobbin-holding center at or evensomewhat beyond the base end of thebobbin so a to clear a path for the bobbin tobe'dropped downwardly, infront ofthe thread guide eye, out from between the centers. v g

It will be noticedthat the feeler 15 of each winding unit is adapted tomove outwardly away from the axis of the wound bobbin to at least thelargest diameter of the body of thread wound on the bobbin, so that thefeeler and the thread guide assembly can be moved in the direction;

. of the base of the bobbin while'the wound bobbin tending mechanism.Simultaneously with this movement of the thread guide assembly, thebobbin is slowly rotated so that the thread from detector 8. can drop,raisi g its rearwardly extending crank arm 262, and accordingly raisingthe latch 253 i l the threadguide is wound on the bobbin in the form ofan open spiral, as shown in Fig. 14.

' The means for causing this slow rotation of the bobbin preferablycomprises "a smooth pulley 1H2 on the inner end of the motor shaft 313that rotates the hollow center 30, and a stationary friction surfaceconsisting of a strip of cork or the like-3,15, disposed along the pathof travel of thewinding units. 1

With the. thread guide assembly positioned as shown in Fig. 14; thethread extending from the eye 68 of the thread guide to the spiral onthe bobbin is brought into the open blades of a cutting and clampingbill Bill 150 is simi-' lar to bill I50 of Figs. 1 to l3 but faces tothe left, as shown in Fig. 16, insteadsof-to the right as the bill. I50of Fig.110, and is curved as shown in Fig. 16 so as to clear a fullywound bobbin that is held between the centers of the winding unit.Moreover, the blades of the bill are located so that in thethread-receiving position shown in full lines in Fig. 16, the blades areabove the lower portion of the thread guide eye 63 so as to receive thethread extending therefrom to thebobbin.

Bill I5!) is mounted to turn with an inner sleeve 530 which turns on astationary shaft 53I, the inner sleeve and bill being yieldingly urgedto the full line position of Fig. 16 by the spiral spring 540 (Fig. 14).Inner sleeve 530 is provided with a crank arm 543 adapted to engage andbe turned by the bars I on the respective winding units, in the mannerof the mechanism of Figs. 1 to 13.

An outer sleeve 53C! rotatable on the inner sleeve 53!) carries a crankarm 5M5 fast thereon and connected by a link I62 to the extension I56 ofthe pivoted blade [54. These parts are yieldingly urged to the open-billposition of Fig. 16 by a coil spring 549 In this position, a furthercrank arm 543 fast on the outer sleeve 530 is located somewhat more tothe left (Fig. 16) than the crank arm 543, and likewise in position toengage and be turned by the bars lllll of the winding units. Thus, whenthe bar Hill of a winding unit first encounters the bill-operatingmechanism, the crank arm 543 outer sleeve 530 arm 546 link I62 and bladeextension I56 are first moved to close the pivoted blade I54, cuttingand 'clamping the thread. The spring 549 between arm 546 and the'billofiers less resistance than the coil spring between the bill-carryinginner sleeve 530 and the fixed shaft 53l, so as to permit this closureof the bill before rotation of the bill about the fixed shaft.Thereupon, with the bill closed, the bar llll'l engages and turns thecrank arm 543, inner sleeve 530 and bill, to bring the bill to thebroken line position of Fig. 16. In this position the thread is inposition to line across the center 30 of the winding unit in its brokenline position of Fig. 16. It will be noticed that the first part of themovement of the bill from its full line position of Fig. 16 removes thebill from beneath the full bobbin, thus avoiding interference betweenthe bill and the bobbin as the bobbin is then dropped out from betweenits centers'30 and 3|.

A stationary abutment 35, similar to the one previously described inconnection with Figs. 1 to 13, but shorter in length, is located topress the lever 34 of the unit inwardly to retract the outer center 3|as the bobbin passes over a stationary inclined chute 31, thus droppingthe bobbin into this chute. The stationary abutment 36 terminates at apoint uch that the outer center 3| closes upon a fresh bobbin in themagazine at the broken line position of the center 30 in Fig. 16,forcing the base end of the bobbin and the thread into the center andthus securing the thread to the fresh bobbin for winding thereon. Thethread end then pulls out from between the blades of the bill, and thebill returns to its full line position of Fig. 16.

The mechanism of this invention can be simplified by eliminating thefeeler I5 and the cooperating ratchet bar 18 and causing the progressionof the zone of traverse of the thread guide toward the tip of the bobbinby a cam-like abutment extending around the machine as disclosed in theapplication Serial No. 488,872 of Edward J. Abbott and Winthrop L.Perry, filed May 28,

1943. Such abutment may for example take the form of the pair of flangesindicated at 600 and 6M in said application Serial No. 488,872, nowPatent No. 2,362,455, the roller 8| of the thread guide assembly hereinshown moving back and forth between these flanges, 600 and 60!, whichare spaced apart a distance such that travel of the roller 8| of thethread guide assembly from one such flange to the other will produce thedesired length of stroke of the thread guide assembly.

In particular such simplification and use of the aforesaid abutment isadvantageous in conjunction with the mechanism of l4, l5, and I6 of thisapplication in providing a simple construction permitting the winding ofthe open spiral of thread on the exterior of the bobbin while the bobbinis still retained by the bobbin holding centers of the winding unit.

We claim:

1. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding awinding bobbin, a thread guide having during winding a path of movementlocated On the same side of the bobbin from which the thread runs inapproaching the thread guide, means for discharging the bobbin from saidholding means, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said holding means,a clamp engageable with a portion of the thread extending from thethread guide to the wound bobbin, and means for moving the clamp andclamped thread from the side of said holding means at which the threadguide has its said path of movement to another generally opposite sideof said holding means.

2. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding awinding bobbin, a thread guide having during winding a path of movementlocated on the same side of the bobbin from which the thread runs inapproaching thethread guide, means for discharging the bobbin from saidholding means, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said holding means,a combined clamp and cutter engageable with a portion of the threadextending from the thread guide to the wound bobbin, and means formoving the combinedclamp and cutter and clamped thread from the side ofsaid holding means at which the thread guide has its said path ofmovement to another generally opposite side of said holding means.

3. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding awinding bobbin, a thread guide located below the winding bobbin to causethe thread to approach the winding bobb'in by running upwardly frombeneath the bobbin onto the bobbin, means for discharging the woundbobbin from said holding means, meansv for supplying a fresh bobbin tosaid holding means, and means for moving from below said holding meansupwardly to said holding means a portion of thread that has passed thethread guide, for engagement of said thread with the fresh bobbin.

below said holding means to above of the thread between said center andsaid fresh bobbin.

5. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding awinding bobbin, a thread guide located to cause the thread to approachthe winding bobbin by running upwardly from beneath the bobbin onto thebobbin, means for discharging the wound bobbin from said holding means,means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said holding means, and a clampengageable with a portion of the thread extending from the thread guideto the wound bobbin, and means for moving the clamp and clamped threadfrom said holding means. 6. An automatic winding machine comprisingmeans for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide located tocause the thread to approach the winding bobbin by running upwardlyfrombeneath the bobbin onto the bobbin, means for discharging the woundbobbin from said holding means, means for supplying a fresh bobbin tosaid holding means, and a combined clamp and cutter engageable with aportion of the thread extending from the thread guide to the woundbobbin, and means for moving the combined clamp and cutter and clampedthread from below said holding means to above said holding means. '7. Anautomatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding awinding bobbin, a thread guide located below'the winding bobbin to causethe thread to approach the winding bobbin by running upwardly frombeneath the bobbin onto the bobbin, means for imparting to the threadguide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbintoward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on thebobbin in nested conical layers, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to'said holding means, and means for moving from below said holding meansupwardly to said holding means a portion of thread that has passed thethread guide, for engagement of said thread with the fresh bobbin.

8. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding awinding bobbin, said holding means including a center for holding thebase end of the bobbin, a thread guide located to cause the thread toapproach the winding bobbin by running upwardly from beneath the bobbinonto the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressiveadvance of its zone of traverse toward the tip of the bobbin so as todistribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means forshifting the thread guide in the direction of an end of the bobbin atleast as far as to adjacent to said end after the winding of the lastsaid conical layer of thread, means acting while the thread guide isbeyond said end of the bobbin for discharging said bobbin from saidcenter downwardly, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said center,and means for holding the thread for engagement between said freshbobbin and said center including means for positioning above andadjacent to said center a portion of thread that has passed the threadguide and means for shifting said thread guide to a position adjacent tosaid center.

9. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding awinding bobbin, said holding means including a center for holding thebase end of the bobbin, a'thread guide located to cause the thread toapproach the winding bobbin by running upwardly from beneath the bobbinonto the bobbin, means for imparting to the thread guide a progressiveadvance of its zone of traverse toward the tip of the bobbin so as todistribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means fordischarging the bobbin from said center after the Winding of the lastconical layer, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said center, andmeans for holding the thread for engagement between said fresh bobbinand said center including a clamp engageable with a portion of thethread extending from the thread guide to the wound bobbin and means formoving the 'clamp and clamped thread from below said center to abovesaid center.

10. An automatic Winding machine comprising means for rotatably holdinga winding bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin duringwinding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means forautomatically moving the thread-guide in the direction of an end of thebobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end after the completionof windin of a body of thread on the bobbin, and means for dischargingsaid bobbin from said holding means downwardly through said path ofmovement of the thread guide.

11. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holdinga winding bobbin, a thread-guidemovable lengthwise of the bobbin duringwinding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means forautomatically moving the thread-guide in the direction of an end of thebobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end after the completionof windin of a body of thread on the bobbin, and means for dischargingsaid bobbin from said holding means downwardly through said path ofmovement of the thread guide, the machine including means engageablewith a portion of the thread extending from the thread guide to thebobbin for carrying the thread into position for association with afresh bobbin.

12. An automatic winding machine comprising means including a center forrotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise ofthe bobbin during winding along a path of movement extending beneath thebobbin, means for automatically moving the threadguide in the directionof an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end afterthe completion of winding of a body of thread on the bobbin, and meansfor discharging said bobbin from said, holding means downwardly throughsaid path of movement of the thread guide, the machine including a clampenga'geable with a portion of the thread extending from the thread guideto the bobbin and means for moving the clamp and clamped thread frombelow said center to above said center.

13. An automatic winding machine comprising means including a center forrotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise ofthe bobbin during winding along a path-of movement extending beneath thebobbin, means for automatically moving the threadguide in the directionof an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end afterthe completion of winding of a body of thread on the bobbin, and meansfor discharging said bobbin from said holding means downwardly throughsaid path of movement of the thread guide, the machine including acombined clamp and cutter engageable with a portion of the threadextending from the thread guide to the bobbin and means for moving theclamp and cutter and clamped thread from below said center to above saidcenter.

14. An automatic winding machine compris-. ing means for rotatablyholding a winding bobbin, said holding means including a center for thebase of the bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbinduring winding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin,means for imparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of itszone of traverse along the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on thebobbin in nested conical layers, means for automatically movin thethread guide in the direction of an end of the bobbin at least as far asto adjacent to said end after the winding of the last sad conical layerof thread, and means for discharging said bobbin from said centerdownwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide. I

15. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holdinga winding bobbin, said holding means including a center for the base ofthe bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of thebobbin duringwinding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means forimpartingto the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone oftraverse along the bobbinso as to distribute the thread on the bobbin innested conical layers, means for autoi matically moving the thread guidein the direction of an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacentto said end after the winding of the last said conical layer of thread,and means for discharging said bobbin from said center downwardlythrough said path of movement of the thread guide, the machine-includingmeans engageable with a portion of the thread extending from the threadguide to the bobbin for carrying the thread into position forassociation with a fresh bobbin.

16. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holdinga winding bobbin, said holdingfmeans including a center for the base ofthe bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin duringwinding along a pathof movement extending beneath the bobbin, means forimparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone oftraverse along the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbinin nested conical layers, means for automatically moving the threadguide in the direction of an end. of the bobbin at least as far as toadjacent to said end after the winding of the last said conical layer ofthread, and means for discharging said bobbin from said centerdownwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide, themachine including a clamp engageable with a portion of the threadextending from the thread guide to the bobbin and means for moving theclamp and clamped thread from below said center to above said center.

17. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holdinga winding bobbin, said holding means including a, center for .the baseof the bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin duringwinding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means forimparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone oftraverse along the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbinin nested conical layers, means for auto,- matieally moving the threadguide in the direc tion of an end of the bobbin at least as far as toadjacent to said end after the winding of the last said conical layer ofthread, and means for discharging said bobbin from said centerdownwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide, themachine including a combined clamp and cutter engageable with a portionof the thread extending from the thread guide to the bobbin and meansfor moving the clamp and cutter and clamped thread from below saidcenter to above said center.

18. A travelin winding unit for an automatic winding machine, includingcenters for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, said centers beingadapted to open to discharge the bobbin downwardly, and means formounting the thread guide for movement beneath said winding bobbinduring winding and also for movement out of its winding position topermit the discharged bobbin to pass through the path of movement of thethread guide.

19. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holdinga. winding bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbinduring winding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin,means for automatically removing the threadguide from beneath thebobbin, and means for dropping the bobbin downwardly from said holdingmeans.

20. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holdinga winding bobbin, said holding means including a center for the base ofthe bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin duringwinding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means forimparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone oftraverse along the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbinin nested conical layers, means for automatically removing the threadguide from beneath the bobbin after the winding of the last conicallayer of thread, and means for dropping the bobbin downwardly from saidcenter.

21. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of windingunits each including means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin,

each winding unit includin a thread guide movable in a path extendingbeneath its winding bobbin, and the machine including mechanism actingon the threads of the several units in succession-to hold a portion ofthe thread above the level of the bobbin-holding means of the unit.

22. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of windingunits each including a center for rotatably holding a winding bobbin,each winding unit including a thread guide movable in a path extendingbeneath its winding bobbin, and the machine including mechanism actingon the threads of the several units in succession to hold a portion ofthe thread above and adjacent to the said center of the unit.

23. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of windingunits each including a center for rotatably holding a winding bobbin,each winding unit including a thread guide movable in a path extendingbeneath its winding bobbin, and the machine including means forsupplying fresh bobbins to the centers of said winding units,thread-positioning means adapted to engage the threads of the severalunits in succession between the thread guide and wound bobbin of theunit and carry the thread upwardly into position for engagement betweenthe center and the fresh bobbin.

24. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of windingunits each including means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, athread guide movable in a path extending beneath its winding bobbin, themachine including means for imparting to each thread guide a progressiveadvance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin toward the tip of thebobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conicallayers, means acting successively on the several units to discharge thewound bobbin from said holding means, and means for shifting each threadguide in the direction of an end of the bobbin at least as far as toadjacent to said end preparatory to such discharge of the bobbin.

25. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of windingunits each including means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, athread guide movable in a path extending beneath its winding bobbin, themachine including means for imparting to each thread guide a progressiveadvance of its zone of traverse along thebobbin toward the tip of thebobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conicallayers, means acting successively on the several units to discharge thewound bobbin from said holding means, means for shifting each threadguide in the direction of the tip end of the bobbin at least as far asto adjacent to said end preparatory to such discharge of the bobbin,means for rotating each bobbin following such discharge, and meansacting to lead each thread back toward the base of the bobbin duringsuch rotation following discharge of the bobbin, thereby to wind thethread in the form of an open spiral on the exterior of the bobbin.

26. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of windingunits each including means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, athread guide movable in a path extending beneath its winding bobbin, themachine including means for imparting to each thread guide a progressiveadvance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin toward the tip of thebobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conicallayers, means acting successively on the several units to discharge thewound bobbin from said holding means, means for shifting each threadguide in the direction of the tip end of the bobbin at least as far asto adjacent to said end preparatory to such discharge of the bobbin,means for rotating each bobbin following such discharge, and means forshifting each thread guide toward the base end of the bobbin during suchrotation, thereby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiral onthe exterior of the bobbin.

27. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of windingunits and means for moving said units in a procession around themachine, each winding unit including a thread guide movable in a pathextending beneath its winding bobbin, the machine including means forimparting to each thread guide a progressive advance of its zone oftraverse along the bobbin toward the tip of the bobbin so as todistribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means fordischarging each bobbin from its holding means downwardly through thepath of its thread guide, a support along which said discharged bobbinsroll with their respective winding units, and means for leading thethreads extending to the rolling bobbins toward the base end of suchbobbin, thereby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiral on theexterior of the bobbin.

28. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of windingunits and means for moving said units in a procession around themachine, each winding unit including a thread guide movable in a pathextending beneath its winding bobbin, the machine including means forimparting to each thread guide a progressive advance of its zone oftraverse along the bobbin toward the tip of the bobbin so as todistribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conical layers, means fordischarging each bobbin from its holding means downwardly through thepath of its thread guide, a support along which said discharged bobbinsroll with their respective winding units, and means for shifting eachthread guide toward the base end of its discharged bobbin as such bobbinrolls, thereby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiral on theexterior of the bobbin.

29. A traveling winding unit for an automatic winding machine includingcenters for rotatably holding a winding bobbin, a thread guide having apath of movement beneath said winding bobbin, said centers being adaptedto open to discharge the bobbin downwardly, and the thread guide beingmovable out of its winding position to permit the discharged bobbin topass through the path of movement of the thread guide, and means belowthe path of movement of the thread guide for constraining the dischargedbobbin to rolling movement with the winding unit.

30. A multiple unit winding machine including a plurality of Windingunits and winding unit tending mechanism, with relative movement betweenthe winding units and the tending mechanism to bring the tendingmechanism into cooperative relation to the winding units in succession,the winding units including means for holding winding bobbins with theiraxes transverse to the direction of such relative movement, and thetending mechanism including a movable thread clamp adapted to engage thethread of a winding unit and thereupon having one component of motionupwardly from beneath the bobbin-holding means to above thebobbin-holding means of the winding unit, and another component ofmotion in the direction of the relative motion of the winding unit withrespect to the tending mechanism.

31. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holdinga winding bobbin, a thread guide located below the winding bobbin tocause the thread to approach the winding bobbin by running upwardly frombeneath the bobbin onto the bobbin, means for imparting to the threadguide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse toward the tip ofthe bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nestedconical layers, means acting after the winding of the last conical layeron the bobbin to lead the thread back toward the base of the bobbin,means for rotating the bobbin during such leading of the thread back,thereby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiral on the exteriorof the bobbin, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said holding means,and means for moving from below said holding means upwardly to saidholding means a portion of the thread that has passed the thread guide,for engagement of said thread with the fresh bobbin.

32. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holdinga winding bobbin, a thread guide located below the winding bobbin tocause the thread to approach the winding bobbin by running upwardly frombeneath the bobbin onto the bobbin, means for imparting to the threadguide a progressive advance of its 19 a zone of traverse toward the tipof the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nestedconical layers, means acting after the winding of the last conical layeron the bobbin to lead the thread back toward the base of the bobbin,means for rotating the bobbin during such leading of the thread back,thereby to Wind the thread in the form of an open spiral on the exteriorof the bobbin, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said holding means,and threadpositioning means engageable with a portion of the threadextending from the thread guide to the bobbin and movable from belowsaid holding means upwardly to said holding means, for engagement ofsaid thread with the fresh bobbin.

33. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holdinga winding bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin duringwinding along a path of movement located below the bobbin, means forimparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone oftraverse toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread onthe bobbin in nested conical layers, means for automatically moving thethread guide in the direction of an end of the bobbin at least as far asto adjacent to said end after the completion of winding of a body ofthread on the bobbin, means for discharging said bobbin from saidholding means downwardly through said path of movement of the threadguide, means for leading the thread back toward the base of the bobbin,means for rotating the bobbin during such leading of the thread back,thereby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiral on the exteriorof the bobbin, means for supplying a fresh bobbin to said holding means,and means for positioning above said holding means a portion of thethread that has passed the thread guide, for engagement of said threadwith the fresh bobbin.

34. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holdinga ,winding bobbin, a thread guide, means for imparting to the threadguide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse toward the tip ofthe bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nestedconical layers, means acting after the winding of the last conical layeron the bobbin to lead the thread back toward the base of the bobbin,means for applying a rolling action to the bobbin during such leading ofthe thread back, thereby to wind the thread in 'the form of an openspiral on the exterior of the bobbin, a thread clamp located to receivethe thread extending from the thread guide to said spiral on the bobbin,means for severing the thread extending from the clamp to the bobbin,and means for moving said clamp to carry the thread into position to beassociated with a fresh bobbin.

35. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holdinga winding bobbin, a thread guide, means for imparting to the threadguide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse toward the tip ofthe bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nestedconical layers, means acting after the winding of the last conical layeron the bobbin to lead the thread back toward the base of the bobbin,means for applying a rolling action to the bobbin during such leading ofthe thread back, thereby to wind the thread in the form of an openspiral on the exterior of the bobbin, a combined clamp and cuttercomprising clamping and cutting elements adapted to clamp the thread andcut the thread between the clamped portion and the bobbin,

said combined clamp and cutter being located to receive the threadextending to said spiral adjacent to the base portion of wound thread onthe bobbin, and means for moving said combined clamp and cutter to carrythe thread clamped thereby into position to be associated with a freshbobbin.

36. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holdinga winding bobbin, a thread guide movable beneath the bobbin, means forimparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone oftraverse toward the tip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread onthe bobbin in nested conical layers, means fordischarging the bobbindownwardly from its holding means to a position below the path of thethread guide, means acting after such discharge of the bobbin to movethe thread guide back above the bobbin toward the position of winding ofthe base portion of thread of the bobbin, means for applying a rollingaction to the discharged bobbin during such backward movement of thethread guide, thereby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiralon the exterior of the bobbin, a clamp positioned to receive the run ofthread extending from the thread guide to said spiral on the dischargedbobbin, means for severing the thread extending from the clamp to thebobbin, and means for moving said clamp to carry the thread intoposition to be associated with a fresh bobbin.

37. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holdinga winding bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin duringthe winding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, meansfor imparting to the thread guide a. progressive advance of its zone oftraverse along the bobbin awayfrom the base and toward the tip of thebobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conicallayers, means for automatically moving the thread guide in the directionof the'base end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said endafter the winding of the last said conical layer of thread, and meansfor discharging said bobbin downwardly through said path of movement ofthe thread guide.

38. An automatic winding machine comprising means for rotatably holdinga winding bobbin, said holding means including a center for the base ofthe bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin duringwinding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means forimparting to the thread guide a progressive advance of its zone oftraverse along the bobbin away from the base and toward the tip of thebobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nested conicallayers, means for stopping said progressive advance of the zone oftraverse of the thread guide, means for automatically moving .the threadguide adjacent to said center for the base of the bobbin while saidbobbin is held by said center, means for discharging said bobbindownwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide, and meansfor moving upwardly to said center a portion of thread that has passedthe thread guide, for engagement of the thread with said center.

39. An automatic winding machine comprising means for holding arotatable winding bobbin, said holding means including a center for thebase of the bobbin, a thread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbinduring winding along a path of movement extending beneath the bobbin,means for imparting to the thread guide a pro- 21 gressive advance ofits zone of traverse along the bobbin so as to distn'butethe thread innested conical layers, means for automatically moving the thread guidein the direction of an end of the bobbin at least as far as to adjacentto said end, elements adapted to clamp the thread between them, meansfor operating said elements to clamp the thread at a place between thewound bobbin and the thread guide while the bobbin is held by saidcenter, and means for thereafter discharging the bobbin from said centerdownwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide.

40. An automatic winding machine comprising means for holding arotatable winding bobbin,

said holding means including a center for the base of the bobbin, athread guide movable lengthwise of the bobbin during winding along a,path of movement extending beneath the bobbin, means for imparting tothe thread guide a progressive advance of its zone of traverse along thebobbin so as to distribute the thread in nested conical layers, meansfor automatically moving the thread guide in thedirection of an end ofthe bobbin at least as far as to adjacent to said end, a combined clampand cutter, means for operating said combined clamp and cutter to clampthe thread at a place between the wound bobbin and the thread guide andcut the thread extending to the bobbin while the bobbin is held by saidcenter, and means for thereafter discharging the bobbin from said centerdownwardly through said path of movement of the thread guide.

41. A multiple-unit winding machine including a plurality of windingunits each including means for rotatably holding a winding bobbin and athread guide movable in a path extending beneath said winding bobbin,the machine including means for imparting to each thread guide aprogressive advance of its zone of traverse along the bobbin toward thetip of the bobbin so as to distribute the thread on the bobbin in nestedconical layers, means acting successively on the several units todischarge the wound bobbin from said holding means, means for shiftingeach thread guide in the direction of the base end of the bobbin atleast as far as to adjacent to said end preparatory to such discharge ofthe bobbin, and means for rotating each bobbin during such shift of thethread guide, ther,eby to wind the thread in the form of an open spiralon the exterior of the bobbin.

EDWARD J. ABBO'I'I.

WINTHROP L. PERRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,121,103 Hooper Dec. 15, 19142,075,544 Reiners et al Mar. 30, 1937 2,302,715 Reynolds et a] Nov. 24,1942 2,361,813 Beckman Oct. 31, 1944

